Football Picked Fifth; Three Named to All-NEC Preseason Team

SOMERSET, N.J. - On Wednesday morning the Northeast Conference (NEC) aired its annual virtual media day on ESPN3. Head coach Dan Curran, Tyler Roberts, and Anthony Witherstone were all interviewed, fielding questions from various media outlets.
 
In the preseason poll segment of the show Merrimack College was picked fifth. Sacred Heart University led the way receiving five out of eight first place votes. Duquesne University earned three first place votes, which was good enough to earn them second place. Saint Francis University and Central Connecticut State University finished third and fourth respectively. Long Island University and Wagner College were behind the Warriors in a tie for sixth. Newly added NEC member Stonehill College rounded out the list in eighth.
 
Jacari Carter was the lone Warrior on the offensive All-Northeast Conference Preseason team. Carter compiled one of the most prolific offensive seasons in program history in 2021. The Sayreville, N.J. native had 89 catches for 713 yard and eight touchdowns a season ago. He came up just a few receptions shy of breaking the record for freshman catches at the FCS level. Carter was an All-NEC first team wide receiver and return specialist, as well as a HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-American, Jerry Rice Award finalist, and All-New England selection.  Graduate student linebacker Rodney Samson was one of two Warriors picked for the All-Northeast Conference Preseason team on the defensive side of the ball. The Peekskill, N.Y. native is coming off a NEC All-Conference first team honor in 2021. He led the Warriors in tackles with 82 on the season, including eight for a loss. He had the second-most tackles in a single game in program history with 23 against Wagner. Samson got in the backfield for 2.5 sacks for a combined loss of 28 yards. Defensive back Darion McKenzie also earned an All-Northeast Conference Preseason honor for his play on defense. McKenzie earned NEC All-Conference second team honors a season ago. He finished first on the team in pass break ups with nine on the season. The Berlin. Md. native finished sixth on the team in tackles with 34, including 2.5 for a loss.  

The NEC released their broadcast schedule for the upcoming 2022 season on Tuesday. Merrimack will be featured in back-to-back weeks on ESPN3, first the Warriors hit the road against Duquesne and then come back home to host Wagner on October 15. Merrimack will also play on ESPN+ when they take on the Crimson of Harvard on September 16.    

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